105 Rachel W, Montreal, H2W 1G4
Rated this place:
The raw story: Crudessence, or “Cru” to regulars, is a bold and original new cafe in Montreal’s plateau neighbourhood that completely embraces the raw food movement. All ingredients are vegan, organic, and alive - read: fully raw. This means uncooked lasagne, quiche, pizza, and a variety of other selections.
The Crudessence goal is to move us away from processed foods, and to make us more aware of what we are putting into our mouths. These dishes have the advantage of retaining all of their nutrients – nothing will be destroyed by heat.
Even sceptics can’t help but enjoy fresh salads, pates, nachos, sushi rolls, smoothies and freshly squeezed juices. For the more adventurous palate, Cru offers raw soups, mushroom burger on chapatti and pancakes made of Brazil nuts and banana.
Crudessence also sells wheat grass – rumoured to have special health and weight loss properties - along with homemade Kombucha – a fizzy health drink, reminiscent of beer or cider, born from a combination of mushroom culture and fermented black tea. Both carry with them a variety of health claims, and cult-like followings of believers.
Items run from about $3.00-$12.00, and Cru offers a “lunch box” delivery service for offices, catered buffets, prepared food for take-home and even “un-cooking classes”. It may not make you a raw-food convert, but something this clever, health-conscious, and adventurous is an experience not to be missed.